Rotary finishing press



March 18, 1941. D. G ESSNER ROTARY FINISHING PRESS 6 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1958 .ll wlll 1 I :1 -i 1L fidemr cafissner 6.

March 18, 1941. EssNER 2,235,495

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' ROTARY FINISHING PRESS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 18, 1941. D- S 2,235,495

ROTARY FINISHING PRESS Filed Sept. 12, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 d tB Q fidezrr 6i G'SJzerf Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES ATE-NT FFEQE ROTARY FINISHING PRESS David Gessner, Worcester, Mass.

Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,497

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the finishing of woolen and worsted cloth, and relates more particularly to rotary presses used for ironing and pressing long pieces of cloth.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved construction in rotary finishing presses, by which increased production and a superior finish may be attained. v

To the attainment of this general object, important features of my invention relate to improved means for applying, adjusting and equalizing the ironing pressure, and to the provision of simplified and effective actuating and control mechanism for said machine.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will'be hereinafter described and more'particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved rotary press;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of certain driving mech-' anism, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial rear elevation of the machine;

Figs, 5, 6 and 7 are detail end elevations, looking in the directions of the arrows 5, 6 and in Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow 8 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional front elevation, taken along the line 9--9 in Fig. '8;

Fig. 10 is a partial plan view, looking in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a partial front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow l I in Fig. 10; and

Fig, 12 is a partial sectional View, taken alon the line I2-|2 in Fig. 10.

The travel of the cloth and the general operation of the machine is well shown in Fig. 9, where it appears that the cloth C is directed by guiderolls 20, 2|, 22 and 23 along paths adjacent rotary brushes 24 and 25 by which the two faces of the cloth are effectively brushed. .Any usual friction devices may be provided for retarding the guide rolls 2| and 23 which receive the pull of the brushes.

The cloth then passes under a guide-roll 26, over a rotatably mounted stretch roll 21, and under a guide-roll 28, from which point it passes around the main cylinder 30 and between the pressure beds or ironing" members 3! and 32. The cloth then passes around a guide-roll 33 to any usual delivery mechanism.

The ironing member 3| is pivotally connected by links'35 (Fig. 10) tothe upper ends of two "=5 actuating levers 36, and the member 32 is similarly connected by links 35 to the upper ends of two actuating levers 3%. Each lever 36 or 36 is mounted on a floating pivot stud 31 (Figs. 8 and 9) supported by fixed brackets 38 and slidl0 able on the horizontal top surfaces thereof.

Each pivot stud .31 extends through a rod head 49 (Fig. 9), and the rod heads for a pair ofassociated but oppositely disposed levers 355--36 are connected by a cross rod 42 having right and left- 15 hand screw threads for the rod heads. A worm wheel 43 is fixed on each rod 42. By rotating either one of the rods 42, the space between the pivot studs '3'! for a pair of associated levers 3635 at opposite sides of the machine can be 20 varied .and adjusted. The'pivot studs are nevertheless free to slide toward and from the cylinder 38 on the brackets 38. Springs 44 (Fig. 9) on the ends of the brackets 38 engage the pivot studs 31 and tend to move them yieldingly apart, 25 thus taking up any lost motion.

The lower end of each lever 36 is connected by a link 45 (Fig, 9) to one of two rocking members 46., fixed on a cross shaft 41. The lower end of each lever 36* is connected .to the sec- 80 0nd arm of one of the rocking members 46 through-a link 48 which includes .a spring 49, held under heavycompressio'n but capable of further compression to relieve excess pressure.

The springs 49 act as safety devices to limit 35 the pressure .of the ironing members 3| and 32 against the main cylinder 35) and against the cloth passing around said cylinder. The degree of compression of the springs 49 may be adjusted by nuts 50. I

The crank arms M on the shaft is connected by a link 52 (Fig. 8) to a crank arm 53 on a cross shaft 54. The shaft 54 is given partial rotation only in alternate directions to apply and relieve ironing pressure, as will be hereinafter 45 described.

Driving mechanism and connections I will now describe the driving mechanism of my improved machine. The main drive is 50 through a drive shaft (Figs. 1 and 2), continuously rotated from any suitable source of power. The shaft 60 is connected through a clutch 6| to a driven shaft 62, and' a handle 63 is provided for moving the clutch.

The shaft 02 is provided with a sprocket 04 which drives a chain 65 which in turn engages sprockets 66 and 61 associated with the brushes 24 and 25, all as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By these connections, the brushes 24 and 25 are continuously rotated but in opposite directions.

The shaft 62 is also connected by chains I0 (Fig. 1) to sprockets II on a countershaft 12 (Fig. 2) and the countershaft I2 is connected through sprockets I3 (Fig. 3), chain I4 and sprockets I5 to the shaft I6 which supports and drives the main cylinder 30. The shaft I6 and a corresponding rear journal 'I'I (Fig, 8) are rotatable in bearings I8 on the front and back frame members I9 and 80, which frame members are rigidly connected by one or more girders 8| (Figs. 3 and 8).

In Fig. 1 I have also shown a belt tightener for the chains I4, which tightener comprises a sprocket 83 mounted on a lever 84 and yieldingly pressed against the chains by a weight 85. By shifting the clutch lever 63, the main cylinder 30 and brushes 24 and 25 may thus be simultaneously started and stopped.

Pressure-applying mechanism I have provided separate power mechanism for applying and relieving the pressure on the ironing members 3| and 32. For this purpose, I provide a motor M (Figs. 4 and 5) connected through suitable gearing to drive a cross shaft having a pinion 9I mounted thereon and engaging a gear 92 rotatable on an intermediate shaft or stud 93. A pinion 94 on the shaft 93 engages and drives a gear on the cross shaft 54 which supports the crank arms 53.

The motor M is reversible and is controlled by limit switches 91 and 98 (Fig. 4). When one of these switches 91 is closed, the motor M will be started and will partially revolve the gear 95 and crank arm 53 clockwise in Fig, 4 until an arm 99 on the gear 95 engages and opens the switch 91, thus stopping the motor. If the switch 98 "is thereafter closed, a similar partial rotation in the other direction will take place.

Pressure adjusting and equalizing devices The pressure of the ironing members 3| and 32 against the main cylinder 30 and cloth C is regulated by turning the cross rods 42 (Fig. 9) previously described. For convenient adjustment of these cross rods, I provide a worm shaft I00 having a separate worm I! to engage the worm wheel 43 on each cross rod 42. A hand wheel I02 (Fig. 4) is mounted on the end of the worm shaft I00 and constitutes means for convenient manual adjustment of the distance between the pivot studs 31 of the ironing members 3| and 32.

In order to equalize the pressure between the ironing members at both ends thereof, I make the worm shaft I00 in two parts, connected by a toothed clutch member I05 which may be slipped out of mesh to allow relative adjustment between the two parts of the shaft, thus adjusting one of the worms IOI relative to the other.

I find it desirable to provide an indicating device to show the amount of adjustment of the ironing members toward or away from each other, and for this purpose I provide an index wheel I I0 (Fig. 7) coacting with a fixed index I I I and connected with the worm shaft I00 by a Worm gear H2, worm II3, worm shaft II4, sprocket H5, chain H0 and sprocket Ill.

Suitable steam connections are provided for heating the ironing members 3| and 32 and the main cylinder 30. A steam supply pipe I20 (Fig. 4) is connected by branch pipes I2I and I22 to the rear ends of the ironing members 3| and 32 and is also connected by a pipe I 24 (Figs. 4 and 6) through a swivel pressure connection and through the cylinder journal II to the inside of the cylinder 30. A drainage pipe I25 is provided to remove condensation from the cylinder, and drainage pipes I26 (Fig. 4) are provided to remove condensation from the ironing members.

The preferred construction of the main cylinder is indicated in section in Fig. 8 and comprises a heavy steel drum I30 mounted between heads I3I supported by the shaft I6 and journal 11.

The detailed construction of the ironing members 3| and 32 is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. Each ironing member is provided with bearing extensions I40, slidable on brackets I4I secured to the side frames I9 and 80, and held from displacement by caps I42. Each ironing member is of hollow reenforced construction as shown in Fig. 12, and is provided with a highly polished copper facing I43. A guide or spreader member I44 is provided for the ironing member 3I and acts to guide and smooth the cloth as it approaches the cylinder 30.

Having described the details of construction of my improved rotary finishing press, the method of operation and advantages thereof will be readily apparent. After the cloth is threaded through the machine, the lever 63 is moved to throw in the clutch and start the main cylinder 30 and brushes 24 and 25 in rotation. The motor M is then started, moving the gear 95 in the direction of the arrow a in Fig. 4, and thus moving the rocking members 40 to the positionshown in Figs. 4 and 9. This advances the ironing members 3I and 32 against the main cylinder 30 and the interposed cloth C with a pressure determined by the initial compression of the springs 49.

The floating bearings for the ironing members 3I and 32 and for the upright levers 36 permit the members SI and 32 to adjust themselves to equalize pressure on the opposite sides of the cylinder 30, and the total pressure may be conadvantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder, a pair of slidably mounted ironing members, levers connected to said members, floating pivot bearings for said levers, means to rigidly connect the pivot bearings of opposed levers to permit only simultaneous movement thereof, means to force the ends of saidopposed levers apart to apply pressure to said ironing members, and means to vary the pressure of the ironil'lg members by changing the effective length of the rigid connection between the pivot bear ings.

2. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder, a pair of ironing members mounted at opposite sides of said cylinder, and means to apply pressure to said ironing members, said means including a rock shaft, link and lever connections from said rock shaft to said members, a crank arm on said rock shaft, a cross shaft having a second crank arm, a link connecting said crank arms, and means to give said cross shaft partial angular movements in opposite directions.

3. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder,

a pair of ironing members mounted at opposite sides of said cylinder, means to apply pressure to said ironing members, said means including a rock shaft, link and lever connections from said rock shaft to said members, a crank arm on said rock shaft, a cross shaft having a crank arm and a link connecting said crank arms, means to give said cross shaft partial angular movements in opposite directions, and means to stop said cross shaft in predetermined angular positions.

4. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder, a pair of ironing members mounted for ironing engagement with said main cylinder at opposite sides thereof, a single means to simultaneously apply pressure to both of said ironing members, a separate pressure-transmitting connection from said pressure-applying means to each of said ironing members, and devices eifective to produce equal simultaneous transvere bodily movements of said connections relative to said main cylinder but in opposite directions to equalize the pressure applied by said ironing members against said cylinder.

5. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder, a pair of ironing members mounted for ironing engagement with said main cylinder at opposite sides thereof, a single means to simultaneously apply pressure to both of said ironing members, a separate pressure-transmitting connection from said pressure-applying means to each of said ironing members, and devices effective to produce a transverse bodily movement of one of said connections in one direction relative to said main cylinder and a simultaneous and equal bodily movement of the other connection in the opposite direction relative to said main cylinder to equalize the pressure applied by said ironing members against said cylinder.

6. In a rotary finishing press, a main cylinder, a pair of slidably mounted ironing members, levers connected to said members, floating pivot bearings for said levers, means to rigidly connect the pivot bearings of opposed levers, and means to force the ends of said opposed levers apart to apply pressure to said ironing members, said floating pivot bearings and said connecting means coacting to effect simultaneous transverse equal but opposite bodily movements of said levers to equalize the pressure applied by said ironing members against said cylinder.

DAVID GESSNER. 

